Madaline,
According to the NARA website, if he was discharged prior to 1951 his record is considered archival and is open to the public. While the request form that is available online can only be used by the veteran or his next-of-kin, you can hire a researcher to go to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis and get the record. NARA maintains a list of researchers who work at each location. Here's the list for that location. http://www.archives.gov/research/hire-help/st-louis-military.html

Ann Gillespie


________________________________
 

>Date:    Thu, 16 May 2013 12:42:56 -0400
>From:    Madaline Preston <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: veteran's info
>
>I need a resource and am reaching out to this list for help.
>
>My father's brother died in 1984 leaving no children.  Now, at 76 yrs, I am
>the oldest person.....the matriarch....in the line and trying to get the
>family history down for my grandchildren.  The brother was a WWII dive
>bomber pilot, flying off the USS Essex at Tarawa, Wake and Truk Islands.  I
>have tried to obtain his service records but have been advised that since I
>am not a direct descendant, his child, grandchild, etc., these records are
>not available to me.
>
>Is there more than one way to skin this cat?
>
>M Preston
>
>

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